Trencher turret rotating apparatus



July 3, 1962 J. 5. PlLCH TRENCHER TURRET ROTATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 14, 1959 INVENTOR. JOHN 6. "Pl LC H July 3, 1962 J. s. PILCH 3,042,236

TRENCHER TURRET ROTATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 14, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN S. PI LCH 1477 0 NEX United States Patent 3,042,236 TRENCHER TURRET ROTATING APPARATUS John S. Pilch, Ware Machine Works, Inc., P.0. Box 140, Ware, Mass. Filed Dec. 14, 1959, Ser. No. 859,436 4 Claims. (Cl. 214151) This invention relates to a new and improved trencher or backhoe and has particular reference to such a device which is a simpler and more economical construction.

In the construction of tractor mounted backhoes or trenchers or the like, in order to provide a simpler and more economical construction it is essential that the backhoe or trencher unit be kept as close to the tractor as possible, and the length of the unit is controlled by the point of connection of the swing cylinder to the base of the trencher, that is, the pivotal connection of the boom support to the support for the trencher.

In prior construction where a lengthy chain was employed by effecting pivotal movement of the boom support relative to the tractor mounted support with the chain mounted on a sprocket, the pivot rod or piston rod of the hydraulic pivoting means could not move beyond the center of pivot of the boom support which, therefore, required that in order to obtain a greater degree of pivotal movement of the boom support relative to the tractor mounted support, that a lengthier construction be employed.

I have found that by pivoting a chain of only two links between the hydraulic boom support pivoting means and the boom support that a simpler, more economical and shorter trencher can be provided, and also that with these chains of such short length, that there is less wear and tear due to less moving parts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein the preferred form of the invention has been given by way of illustration only.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a trencher embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view similar to FIG. 1, but on an enlarged scale, of the boom support pivoting means; and

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary views generally similar to FIG. 2, but on an enlarged scale, illustrating the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein similar reference character designate corresponding parts throughout, there is shown in FIG. 1 the tractor mounting or platform 10 on which the trencher support, indicated generally at 11, is detachably connected whereby the trencher or backhoe may be attached to or detached from the tractor.

The trencher 11 comprises a support 12 to which is pivotally connected the boom support 13, by the vertical pivots 14 and 15.

The support 12 is supported on the ground, when not in use, or for stabilization during use, by the stabilizers 16 and 17 which are actuated by stabilizer hydraulic jacks 18 and 19 respectively.

On the boom support 13 is pivotally mounted the boom 20 by the horizontal pivot 21 and adjacent the free end of boom 20 is pivotally connected dipper stick 22 which carries bucket 23, which bucket is adapted to be pivoted about dipper stick 22 by hydraulic jack 24.

Dipper stick 22 is adapted to be rotated relative to boom 20 by means of hydraulic jack 25 which has its opposite ends connected to dipper stick 22 and to a sup- 3,042,236 Patented July 3, 1952 port on boom 20, and boom 20 is adapted to be raised and lowered by means of hydraulic jack 26 which has its opposite ends connected to boom support 13 and boom 20.

For pivoting boom support 13 relative to support 12, there are provided two hydraulic jacks 27 and 28 each connected at one end to support 12 and having their opposite ends connected to boom support 13.

As shown in the drawings, the hydraulic jacks 27 and 28 comprise cylinders 27a and 28a, respectively, in which extend the piston rods or pivot rods 27b and 28b, respectively.

The cylinders 27a and 28a are pivotally connected at 27c and 28c to support 12, as will be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2.

The piston rods 27b and 28b are each connected to boom support 13 by a two link chain indicated generally at 27d and 28d, respectively. Chain 271:? comprises link 272 which is pivotally connected at 27 to boom support 13 and by pivot connection 27g to link 27h which, in turn, is pivotally connected at its opposite end at 271' to the end of piston rod =27b.

Chain 28d likewise comprises link 28a pivotally connected at 28 to boom support 13 and at 28g to link 28h, which is pivotally connected at its opposite end at 281' to the end of piston rod 28b.

Adjacent the opposite edges of boom support 13 are provided the stops 29 and 30 for links 27d and 28d, respectively.

In FIG. 4 the boom support 13 is shown in its center position whereby the axis of the boom is substantially parallel with the axis of the tractor and support 12.

In FIG. 5 the boom support 13 is shown pivoted to the left and in FIG. 6 the boom support 13 is shown pivoted to the right.

It will be seen that in the center position of FIG. 4 that the links 27e and 28a engage stops :29 and 30, respectively, and that to pivot the boom support 13 to the left, as shown in FIG. 5, it is merely necessary for the cylinder 27a to pull the piston rod 27b into the cylinder which effects movement of piston rod 28b outwardly from cylinder 28a, and for the movement. of boom support 13 to the right, as shown in FIG. 6, the action of the respective cylinders and piston rods is reversed.

It will be seen that with the use of the chain of only two links that it is possible to move the trencher or backhoe support closer to the tractor and, therefore, provide a simpler and more economical construction and also that because each of the chains only has two links that there are less parts for possible wear and tear.

It will be seen that with only two links on each side that the piston rods can move outwardly from the cylinder to position the connection of the chain and that it is possible for the piston rod to move to a point beyond the axis of the vertical pivot of the boom support, as will be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that i have provided a new and improved construction which is simpler and more economical and, yet, efficient in operation.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a support, a boom support pivotally connected to said support for pivotal movement about a vertical axis and means for pivoting said boom support relative to said] support, said means comprising a pair of hydraulic jacks each connected at one end to said support and each connected to said boom support by a separate chain consisting of only two links, said chains each being connected only adjacent their opposite ends to one of said hydraulic jacks and to said boom support and stop means on said boom support for controlling the movement of said chains.

2. In a device of the character described, a support, a boom support pivotally connected to said support for pivotal movement relative thereto about a vertical axis, a pair of hydraulic means for pivoting said boom support relative to said support, said hydraulic means each being connected to said boom support by a separate chain consisting of two links only, said chains each being connected only adjacent their opposite ends to one of said hydraulic jacks and to said boom support and stop means on said boom support for controlling the pivotal movement of said chains.

3. In a device of the character described, a support, a boom support pivotally connected to said support for pivotal movement relative thereto about a vertical axis, a pair of hydraulic means for pivoting said boom support relative to said support, said hydraulic means each being connected to said boom support by a separate chain consisting of two links only, said chains each being connected only adjacent their opposite ends to one of said hydraulic jacks and to said boom support, said chain being pivotally connected to said hydraulic means and stop means on said boom support for controlling the pivotal movement of said chains.

4. 'In a device of the character described, a support, a boom support pivotally connected to said support for pivotal movement relative thereto about a vertical axis, a pair of hydraulic means for pivoting said boom support relative to said support, said hydraulic means each being connected to said boom support by a separate chain consisting of two links only, said chains each being connected only adjacent their opposite ends to one of said hydraulic jacks and to said boom support, said chain being pivotally connected to said hydraulic means and to said boom support and stop means on said boom support for controlling the pivotal movement of said chains.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,718,3 12 Pilch Sept. 20, 1955 2,831,589 Way Apr. 22, 1958 2,908,142 Wills n Sept. 8, 1959 2,903,145 Brinkel Sept. 8, 19.59. 

